Same-day delivery has become a critical option for businesses that need to move goods immediately, whether it's a vital part across the country or an urgent document across town.
In this article, we explore FedEx SameDay, including how it works, what it costs, and how its service has changed over time. We’ll also discuss why even a global carrier like FedEx can face challenges with same-city deliveries, and examine some alternatives.
Table of Contents:
- What Is FedEx SameDay Delivery?
- How FedEx SameDay Shipping Works?
- How FedEx SameDay Pricing Is Calculated?
- FedEx SameDay Delivery Cutoff Times and Pickup Rules
- FedEx SameDay Courier Service: What Changed After 2023
- Why National Carriers Can Struggle with Same-Day, Same-City Needs?
- Alternatives to FedEx SameDay Services
- Key Takeaways
- Conclusion: Choosing the Right Same-Day Model for Your Operation
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Is FedEx SameDay Delivery?
FedEx SameDay Delivery is the fastest shipping service offered by FedEx for urgent, time-sensitive shipments. The service supports domestic time-critical shipments, subject to routing and aircraft availability. In many cases, FedEx uses air transport combined with ground handling to move packages quickly between hubs. To accommodate different shipment sizes and operational needs, FedEx structures its same-day service into several variations:
- FedEx SameDay® (often called FedEx SameDay US) is designed for envelopes and packages up to 150 lbs, providing cross-country delivery in just hours.
- For heavier shipments, there’s FedEx SameDay® Freight, which handles freight or consolidated packages over 151 lbs on an expedited basis.
- FedEx previously also offered FedEx SameDay City, a same-day courier service for deliveries within the same metropolitan area, which we’ll discuss later.
How FedEx SameDay Shipping Works?
FedEx SameDay functions as a courier-style service within a national carrier network. It relies on FedEx’s centralized infrastructure: air hubs, distribution centers, and standardized dispatch protocols. Here’s how it works:
- On-Demand Scheduling: To use FedEx SameDay, you must create a shipment either via a dedicated online portal or by calling a FedEx SameDay support line. When you book the service, you cannot drop off FedEx SameDay shipments at normal FedEx locations; they must be specially arranged for pickup due to the priority handling required.
- Direct Transportation: Once your package is picked up, FedEx determines the fastest possible route to the destination. If the delivery is relatively nearby, they may send it via a dedicated vehicle. For longer distances, the shipment will likely go on the next available flight to the destination. Upon landing, a courier will then rush the package to the final address.
- Continuous Tracking and Control: Throughout the process, FedEx provides detailed tracking updates from pickup through delivery. You can monitor the status of the shipment in real time and receive notifications at each step.
How FedEx SameDay Pricing Is Calculated?
The FedEx same day delivery cost is notably higher than regular shipping options, as you might expect for such expedited service. There isn’t an easy online price table; instead, pricing is calculated per shipment and depends on several key factors:
- Distance: The farther you need to send a SameDay shipment, the more it will cost. Shorter-distance same-day deliveries might be done by a dedicated van or car, whereas cross-country deliveries will go by air, and air transportation generally costs more.
- Weight: FedEx breaks this service into parcel (up to 150 lbs) versus freight (over 150 lbs) categories, each with its own rate structure.. As a rule of thumb, a heavier package or pallet will incur significantly higher charges than a light envelope.
- Package Size (Dimensional Weight): Bulkiness can also drive up the price. FedEx uses dimensional weight for SameDay shipments, which means they charge by volume if your package is large relative to its weight. A very large, lightweight item will be billed as if it weighed more, due to the space it occupies in a vehicle or airplane. Efficient packing can thus reduce costs.
- Special Handling: While not listed as a line item, any special requirements (such as temperature control, extra security, or unusual handling instructions) can affect the cost. Same-day shipments by default include priority handling, but if your shipment needs something beyond the norm, FedEx may add fees.
For businesses managing high shipping volumes, cost predictability becomes important. Some organizations complement SameDay services with internal analytics or even a parcel audit service to monitor invoice accuracy and optimize spend across carriers.
FedEx SameDay Delivery Cutoff Times and Pickup Rules
Unlike normal overnight shipping, which might require you to send a package by 5 PM to get it delivered the next morning, FedEx SameDay has no end-of-day cutoff as long as there is a way to deliver your package within the promised window.
More important than a cutoff time are the pickup rules. As mentioned earlier, you cannot simply drop off a SameDay package at a FedEx location or toss it in a FedEx Drop Box after hours. FedEx requires a scheduled pickup for SameDay shipments. When you place a SameDay order, you will provide the pickup address and ready time.
Note: Just be aware that SameDay pickups can’t be combined with your regular FedEx Ground or Express pickups unless special arrangements are made.
FedEx SameDay Courier Service: What Changed After 2023
FedEx’s same-day offerings underwent a significant change in 2023 with the discontinuation of FedEx SameDay City, its dedicated local courier service. FedEx SameDay City was a service that operated within individual metropolitan areas, essentially FedEx’s in-house local courier fleet for intracity deliveries.
After discontinuing the service, FedEx consolidated its same-day strategy into its broader national infrastructure. A FedEx spokesperson explained that FedEx was “prioritizing several other opportunities for growth” and needed to optimize resources.
For businesses in metro areas, the end of FedEx SameDay City created a gap. Hospitals, labs, law firms, and retailers with same-city needs have had to transition to other solutions, which brings us to the next point: why large national carriers struggle with local same-day demands, and what alternatives have risen to fill that need.
Why National Carriers Can Struggle with Same-Day, Same-City Needs
National carriers are built to handle large volumes and long distances efficiently. But when a shipment needs to move within the same city, those centralized systems can sometimes feel less flexible or harder to adapt to urgent, local needs.
Limited flexibility and rigid same-day procedures
Same-day services from national carriers typically have structured offerings. There’s little room to deviate from those options.
As one industry expert noted, local courier companies, due to their smaller size and local focus, can personalize service to the shipper’s needs in ways that big providers cannot. The big carriers’ same-day services are one-size-fits-all.
Slower communication loops in urgent scenarios
When every minute counts during a same-day delivery, communication is critical, and this is another area where national carriers can be at a disadvantage in local service.
If you ship with a local courier, updates (or changes to the delivery) can be communicated instantly through a tight loop. With a large carrier like FedEx, communication tends to go through centralized customer service and tracking systems.
Lack of local specialization for recurring business routes
Generally, carriers will treat each same-day order as an independent shipment. They won’t, for example, guarantee you the same driver every day at 4 PM, who knows your procedure for signing paperwork, nor will they easily set up a multi-stop circuit as a single job.
Local courier companies, on the other hand, thrive on local geographic knowledge: a courier who works only in, say, the New York City area will know the quickest ways around traffic, the loading-dock quirks of each building, and the specific needs of customers.
Alternatives to FedEx SameDay Services
When evaluating alternatives, businesses should first define whether their priority is cross-state speed or same-city operational control. Different models serve different needs. Here are two notable alternatives to FedEx SameDay services:
Airpals Same-Day Courier Services
Airpals provides a business-focused, intra-city, same-day courier alternative available in over 100 U.S. locations through Airpals Concierge. One of the key advantages of Airpals is its emphasis on flexibility and user-friendly technology.
Businesses can use Airpals to handle both today's and scheduled deliveries, and our service is built around a modern online platform that lets you manage everything in one place: you can input orders, track drivers in real time, and even handle multi-stop delivery routes.
Our platform also offers conveniences like a duplicate order feature (to easily re-book regular routes) and transparent upfront pricing, so you know the cost before you confirm. And of course, Airpals provides live tracking links you can share, giving all stakeholders visibility on the delivery’s progress.
In addition to courier services, Airpals offers parcel management tools that integrate with FedEx and UPS accounts. This allows businesses to manage national carriers and local couriers from one dashboard, improving expense visibility, chain of custody documentation, and operational control.
UPS Express Shipping (National/Freight Deliveries)
UPS, FedEx’s primary competitor, also offers its own expedited shipping solutions. The most comparable service is UPS Express Critical®, which is UPS’s same-day shipping division. UPS Express Critical operates very similarly to FedEx SameDay and handles emergency shipments of any size to anywhere in the U.S.
For same-day local deliveries, UPS’s strategy has been to partner with a platform called Roadie. Roadie is a crowdsourced delivery network that enables local same-day deliveries up to 100 miles. UPS now integrates Roadie for “localized” same-day delivery.
Key Takeaways
- FedEx SameDay is a specialized same-day shipping service for urgent shipments, using dedicated couriers and next-flight-out logistics to get packages delivered the same day they’re sent.
- The cost of FedEx SameDay delivery is significantly higher than standard shipping. Pricing is determined by distance, weight, and package size, among other factors.
- In March 2023, FedEx ended its SameDay City local courier service. After this change, FedEx’s same-day offerings are now focused on cross-city deliveries.
- National carriers often struggle with same-day, same-city scenarios that require flexibility. Their workflows are more rigid, communication may be less direct, and they lack the tailored approach of local couriers for recurring routes or unique requests.
- Alternatives are available to fill the gap for same-day delivery. Airpals, for example, is a same-day courier service catering to businesses with local delivery needs. Also, for long-distance emergencies or heavy freight, UPS Express Critical is a strong option.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Same-Day Model for Your Operation
Choosing the right same-day delivery solution comes down to matching the service model with your operation’s specific needs. FedEx SameDay excels at long-distance and urgent nationwide deliveries.
However, that strength can become a weakness for same-city deliveries where agility and customization are key. If your business frequently needs point-to-point deliveries within the same city area (especially with unique timing or multi-stop requirements), a specialized local courier service could be the better choice.
If your organization needs more control over shipping, whether managing national carriers like FedEx or coordinating local courier routes, Airpals provides a centralized solution. With Airpals, businesses can unify carrier and courier operations in one place while gaining clearer expense visibility and stronger chain-of-custody control.
Book your free Airpals parcel management demo, or explore our same-day courier solutions today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does FedEx do same day delivery?
Yes. FedEx offers fedex same day delivery for urgent domestic shipments within the United States, subject to availability and routing constraints.
How much is FedEx same day shipping?
The fedex same day delivery cost varies by distance, package size, and urgency. Because it often involves air transport, fedex same day delivery prices are higher than standard overnight services.
How fast can FedEx ship?
With fedex same day shipping, delivery can occur within hours depending on origin and destination. Other services range from overnight to multi-day ground shipping.
What are the cutoff times for FedEx SameDay shipping?
There is no fixed fedex same day delivery cut off time. FedEx SameDay availability depends on the shipment’s origin, destination, aircraft routing, and operational capacity. Labels must be created early enough to enter the network for same-day routing.
Does FedEx offer same-day delivery within the same city?
FedEx previously operated fedex sameday city, a local courier model. That service was discontinued after 2023. Current same-day offerings operate through FedEx’s centralized network for interstate shipments.
What are the alternatives to FedEx SameDay services?
Alternatives include local courier providers, such as Airpals, and express national carriers like UPS. Businesses may also combine services under a parcel management strategy for greater control.
How does Airpals fit as an alternative to FedEx SameDay?
Airpals provides local same-day courier services through Airpals Concierge and offers parcel management tools that integrate FedEx and UPS accounts. This allows businesses to centralize carrier oversight while maintaining local courier flexibility where needed.
